Apprenticeship in Childcare
Dickory Docks Educational Day Nursery

You will work four days a week at your nursery setting as a nursery assistant, gaining your practical experience. This will involve a range of activities from arts and crafts to singing and outdoor play. You will then attend college once a week.

Apprenticeship summary

Weekly wage

£140.00

Wages explained

The current National Minimum Wage for an apprentice is £3.50 an hour. This rate applies to apprentices under 19 and those aged 19 or over who are in their first year.
Apprentices must be paid at least the minimum wage rate for their age if they are aged 19 or over and have completed their first year.
The minimum wage rates are £5.60 an hour for 18-20 year olds and £7.05 for anyone aged 21 and over.
Apprentices are paid for their normal working hours and training that’s part of their apprenticeship (usually one day per week).

Working week

40 hrs Mon-Fri between 8am-6pm

Total hours per week: 40.00

Apprenticeship duration

12 months

Possible start date

31 Aug 2017

Date posted

24 Apr 2017

Apprenticeship level

Advanced Level Apprenticeship

Reference number

VAC001213580

Positions

1 available

You will work four days a week at your nursery setting as a nursery assistant, gaining your practical experience. This will involve a range of activities from arts and crafts to singing and outdoor play. You will then attend college once a week to gain your apprenticeship qualification. Activities include:

Maintain accurate and effective children’s records

Respond appropriately to issues requiring confidentiality

Support, promote and implement policies relating to diversity and equality

Work well as part of a team

Work with the team to ensure the smooth running of the nursery day

Work in partnership with parents

Attend parent events and meetings as required

Requirements and prospects

Desired skills

Previous experience in childcare is not a necessity but can help.

A genuine interest in wanting to care for children is essential.

Personal qualities

Learners must be caring, professional and able to work well as a team.

Good time keeping, patience and enthusiasm are all positive qualities for nursery assistants.

Reliable, punctual and trustworthy

Enjoys being creative

Patience and the ability to remain calm at all times

An understanding of and respect for the diversity of families

Appropriate level of maturity and personal confidence

A willingness to reflect on their own practice

The candidate can demonstrate an awareness of confidentiality requirements and basic understanding of child safeguarding.

Qualifications required

To undertake the Advanced Apprenticeship candidates will need to achieve or already have achieved a GCSE grade A-C in Maths and English prior to completion of the Advanced Apprenticeship. ICT Functional Skills will be covered as part of the apprenticeship as is Paediatric first aid. A clear CRB may be required by the nursery.

Future prospects

Learners can use this qualification to go into various care roles.
You can progress onto the advanced apprenticeship and work your way up in the nursery going into team leading and management roles. You could also use your experience to go into teaching, nursing, midwifery, play work and social work. There are many directions you can go with your apprenticeship should you wish.

Things to consider

Childcare is not about playing with babies all day. There will be a variety of activities to plan and deliver each day. You may have key children that you look after and will have to communicate with staff, children, managers and parents at the nursery. There will be a lot of cleaning to do and you may have to work long hours, although this will vary with each employer. It is hard work but it is very rewarding.
From April 2017 this rises to £3.50 per hour. This applies to 16-18 year old apprentices and those aged 19 and over in the first year of their Apprenticeship. For all other apprentices the National Minimum wage appropriate to their age applies. The Minimum Wage for Apprentices applies to time spent on the job plus time spent training.

About the employer

This large nursery is based in the grounds of Prospect School. It is a supportive employer who is looking for an apprentice to join their team.

Employer

Dickory Docks Educational Day Nursery

Address

Cockney Hill

Tilehurst

Reading

RG30 4EX

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Training provider

Level 3 in children and young People's Workforce.

Advanced can choose between day release, evening or Saturday classes. Apprenticeships are made up of the Certificate or Diploma plus Functional Skills in Maths, English and ICT and Paediatric First Aid certificate.

Apprenticeship framework

Children and Young People's Workforce

Training provider

CHILTERN TRAINING LIMITED

Applications for this apprenticeship are being processed by Chiltern Training Ltd

Contact

Admissions Team 0118 9566995

Other information

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) for Apprentices is £3.30 per hour. This applies to 16-18 year old Apprentices and those aged 19 and over in the first year of their Apprenticeship. For all other Apprentices the Apprentice National Minimum wage appropriate to their age applies. The Wage for Apprentices applies to both time spent on the job plus time spent training.

Two hundred early years apprentices will benefit from an increased bursary of £3,000 – up from £1,500 – with a further £300 available for training and study as part of the government’s drive to attract high quality candidates to the profession.

The bursaries – announced in May last year – are available to those taking part in an early years apprenticeship scheme. The first 200 successful applicants to the bursary scheme will secure the increased award of £3,000.

To be eligible, applicants will need to secure an Advanced apprenticeship position, for example, in a nursery, school nursery, or children’s centre that delivers the early learning places for two-year olds and hold at least a GCSE, at grade C or above, in English and maths.

The scheme, which is run by the National College for Teaching and Leadership, is now open for applications. Apprenticeships are expected to take an average of 20 months to complete, and will consist of employment and study to gain recognised qualifications through various routes – including further education colleges.
Further information, including the application form, can be found on the department's website.
If you have any queries in relation to this scheme to please contact us.

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